Celtic have seen seven of their Scottish Premiership fixtures moved to accommodate their 2020/21 UEFA Europa League group stage schedule. The changes, reported by the Daily Record this week, follow the club's qualification for the competition after a dramatic exit from the Champions League play-offs.
Martin O'Neill's side secured their Europa League place by losing their Champions League play-off round match against LASK in Linz, Austria. Despite holding a four-goal lead at one stage in that tie, Celtic ultimately fell short. This marks the club's second consecutive season in the Europa League, with the group stage kicking off on September 16 and 17, 2020. The financial impact of missing the Champions League is significant, costing the club millions in potential revenue.
Which Celtic fixtures have been rescheduled?
The first domestic change sees the season's initial derby moved to Sunday, September 20, 2020. A further seven Premiership matches originally set for Saturdays will now be played on Sundays following Thursday night European commitments. The affected fixtures are a home game against Hearts on October 17, an away trip to Hibernian on October 24, and a home match with Kilmarnock on November 7. Later in the schedule, an away fixture at Hearts on November 28, a home game against Hibernian on December 12, a trip to face St Mirren on January 23, 2021, and a home match with Falkirk on January 30, 2021, have all been shifted. Fans can track the updated calendar on the club's fixtures page.
How does this affect the current season's context?
While the source material details historical scheduling, Celtic's present campaign provides a strong foundation. As of 26 August 2026, the team sits first in the Premiership with a perfect record of two wins from two games, earning six points. Their recent form shows two consecutive victories, and they have scored six goals while conceding only one, giving them a +5 goal difference. This positive start offers a contrasting backdrop to the challenges of balancing domestic and European football detailed in the original report.
What is the significance of the Europa League schedule?
UEFA mandates that clubs involved in Thursday night Europa League matches are granted additional recovery time, hence the automatic move of subsequent domestic league games to Sundays. This pattern will define Celtic's rhythm for the 2020/21 season. The 2021 Europa League final was scheduled to be held in Frankfurt, providing a distant target for O'Neill's squad. The consistent Thursday-Sunday turnaround tests squad depth and management planning over a long campaign.
Who are the key figures for Celtic now?
Looking at the current 2026 squad, striker K. Høgh has emerged as a vital attacking force, topping the scoring charts with 3 goals in just 2 appearances this season. This kind of individual form is essential for navigating a packed fixture list. Supporters can review the full roster and player statistics on the official squad and stats pages. The team's immediate focus, however, is on their next match, a home fixture against Falkirk on 29 August 2026.
The fixture adjustments underscore the perpetual challenge of competing on multiple fronts. With a strong early league position and in-form attackers, the modern Celtic squad is built to handle such demands, aiming to convert European participation into domestic dominance as reflected in the current standings.
